One surprise when my husband Dave and I began cruising was how much socializing we did over appetizers. Cruisers love to get together and happy hour (even if you don’t drink alcohol) just seems to be the perfect time for relaxing after the day’s activities. Most days, we’d have an “ordinary” appetizer, such as crackers and cheese or salsa.
Other days, however, just called out for something special. Perhaps meeting up with old friends we hadn’t seen in months, or a party for everyone in the anchorage to listen to a playoff or bowl game aboard a boat with satellite radio.
Years ago, I’d learned to make baked Crab Rangoon as a healthy alternative to deep frying it. Aboard a boat, it’s also practical – deep frying aboard a boat just isn’t safe with the chance of the boat moving and hot oil splashing or spilling.
Not difficult to make, yet perfect for those days when we wanted something special!
Crab Rangoon
Ingredients
Orange Dipping Sauce
- 1/2 cup orange marmalade
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon prepared mustard (Dijon-type is best)
- dash of ground cayenne pepper, to taste (or white pepper)
Crab Filling
- 8 ounces softened light or regular cream cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning (or other crab seasoning mix)
- few drops of Worcestershire sauce (or hot sauce)
- 1 can crab (6-ounce, drained)
- 25 wonton wrappers
Instructions
- Mix Orange Dipping Sauce ingredients together and set aside.
- Put softened cream cheese in a medium bowl and mix in seasonings. Add crab meat and gently combine. If you like spicy food, increase the Old Bay and use hot sauce (I like Pickapeppa as it’s flavorful but not too hot) – but remember that there is a bit of kick in the dipping sauce, too.
- Preheat oven to 425° F.
- Put a dollop of the crab mixture in the middle of each wonton wrapper, and pinch the corners together on top. Place on a cookie sheet (as close as you want—they won’t spread out) and bake for 10—12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
Notes
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Simplify meal prep on board with proven strategies for provisioning, maximizing fridge space, and cooking delicious meals aboard your boat.
Mary says
Wow! You even have a “servings” adjuster on these recipes! Thank you so much!
These all look amazing. Will be trying them out for docktails!
Kitty says
These sound really good! Definitely going to try these!